The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-08
A COSTA RIcAN COUP D'ETAT.
How n Political Difficulty Was Solved
An Easily Effected Change.

How "a Political Difficulty Was Solved.
An Easily Effected Change.
DR.. Jesus Jimenez may have been learned
man; he was not wise one. He had been
made president of Costa Rica by the army,
and as soon as he got supreme power in the
republic, he gave that important body the
cold shoulder. 1t was mistake. He should
have borne it to the 'front.' giving it prom
inence; wearing it, SO to speak, like rose
in his top buttonhole on dress occasions. On
the contrary, he treated it contemptuously
sneered at its pettiness and flummery, and
degraded its officers. What can single
doctor of medicine do against one entire
regiment of infantry and two gun battery
of flying artilleryl Nothing, absolutely
nothing. His brass mortar and pellets are
but trihes against howitzer and bullets.
But the army was also in an awkward fix.
For the army, as said, had made DR.. Jime-
nee president by coup d'etat. second
coup following SO soon on the steps of the
former would never answer. The army
would lose its prestige. Still, something must
be done, for the most popular officers and
their friends in civil life were being banished
In crowds from the republic.
The difficulty was solved by Col Thomas
Guardia. His brother was in command Of
the one regiment of infantry. 1t was only
necessary, therefore, to get possession of the
artillery. So one morning the great gates of
the barracks were opened, and two wagon
loads Of freshly cut grass passed in as usual,
and the gates were closed. Whereupon, there
suddenly uprose the two loads of grass; and
fourteen men, led by Don Thomas Guardia,
pointed fourteen revolvers at the few half
awake soldiers in the patio, and the job was
done, killing only one foolish officer, who at
tempted resistance to "the revolution of the
people," A lieutenant with few men waited
on Dr. Jimenez and told him that he could re-
sumo the practice Of medicine, as the public
would not require his services any more at the
"palace."
Nothing could have been more satisfactory
to DR.. Jimenez. He really didn't want power,
and only accepted it because he couldn't see
his way out of it, At 8 o'clock he mounted
his saddle mule with his alfarjas, and went
around among his patients; quietly said to his
friends that he was informed that Thomas
Guardia was in possession Of the supreme
government, and that he would be able to
give his business better attention than he had
during the past few months. Before he re-
turned to his house for breakfast he called at
the palace, smiled and nodded toward the
guard and sent his card up to the new presi
dent
You will naturally suppose that Don
Thomas, on hearing OF this sudden appearance
of the dethroned ruler in the place where he
had reigned but yesterday, summoned his
guard, buckled on his sword, capped several
revolvers, ordered squad of detectives to
usher him in and watch his every motion. He
did nothing Of the kind for two reasons:
There never lived one man of whom Thomas
Guardia was afraid, and Of all men in the
world DR.. Jesus Jimenez was the last man
for anybody to be afraid Of. Therefore, when
they met the inquiring, somewhat serious
look of Don Thomas disappeared before tn
cordial, pleased smile of DR.. Jimenez; they
embraced with the fervor Of old friends
Alfred +. Sears in Overland Monthly.